Tears are necessary for maintaining the health of the surface of the eye and for providing clear vision. When your tears can’t provide the adequate moisture your eyes need, your eyes may sting, burn or feel uncomfortable. This is known as dry eye syndrome. The best eye doctor for dry eye treatment is one that can educate you on all options. Our New York City practice has been featured in the press for treating dry eye syndrome with IPL (also known as photo rejuvenation), just watch the videos above to learn more.
Dry eye reatments include lifestyle changes (avoiding heating or air conditioning vents, hair dryers, and cigarette smoke) and eye drops. Artificial tears can be purchased without a prescription or products such as RESTASIS®, can be prescribed to improve tear function. Other options include punctal plugs (a small plug your doctors inserts in the tear duct), eye vitamins, flax seed or fish oil supplements, and intense pulsed light therapy (IPL).
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy improves the meibomian gland’s function in the eye. The light acts as a powerful warm compress to liquefy the secretions plugging up the oil-secreting meibomian glands. This is an “off label” treatment for dry eye but can be effective in select patients whose dry eye is a result of oil secretions (blepharitis). IPL therapy is recommended for four to six treatments spaced one month apart.Coming soon.